Snow-melting apparatus.



P10152345. PATBNTED MAY'"7,--190' 7.

- L. T.' PRIGON.

SNOW MELTING APPARATUS; APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 190a.

TTNTTED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

LOUIS T. FRIGON, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TOANDRE A. ROUSSELLE, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

SNOW-MELTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 7, 1907.

Application filed July 2, 1906. Serial No 324,302.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Louis T. FRIeoN, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at the city and district of Montreal, in the Provinceof Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSnow-Melting Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following isa-full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

My invention relates to snow melting apparatus the object of myinvention is to provide an apparatus adapted to melt snow by the directaction of a hydrocarbon burner, and to prevent the melted snow fromcongealing by the application of indirect heat; a further object is toprovide an apparatus of the character described, with a grate which willquickly conduct the melted snow away, so that the apparatus is notcooled by the melted snow; a further object is to provide an apparatusof few parts, and which may be easily separated and cleaned; and, myinvention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement ofparts, as hereinafter more fully illustrated, described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this application, I haveillustrated one form of embodiment of my invention, in

which drawings similar reference characters designate correspondingparts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective, the outer walls of the casing being partlybroken away to show the interior construction Fig. 2 is a transversevertical section through the apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentarydetail in end elevation, showing the opening and its closure, throughwhich opening may be inserted the nozzle of a hose.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a rectangular base frame,adapted to support a bottom 2. Carried by the base frame 1 are standards3, adapted to support the arched frame members 4. Carried by thestandards 3 are cross braces 5, and carried by the arched members 4 areupper cross braces 6. Also carried by the standards 3 are longitudinalframe members 7, and carried by the arched end frame members 4 arelongitudinal braces 8, and a central longitudinal brace 8 Supported bythe cross braces 6, and extending longitudinally of the apparatus, is astrap 9, to which are connected the tie braces 10, secured to andsupporting the downwardly arched deflector plate 11, which is alsosupported by the arched end members 4, and the strap 9.

Carried by the plate 11 is a plurality of funnel-shaped members 12connected with the vertical pipes 13, and having disposed therein burnerplates '14. Disposed above the burner plates are nozzles 15, connectedto the pipes 16, which extend to a suitable source of oil supply. Thevertical pipes 18 connect with the pipe 17, which in turn is connectedto a suitable source of compressed air. The pipe 16 has thereonvalves 18adapted to control the flow of oil to the burner, and the pipe 17 hasthereon suitable valves 19 to control the supply of compressed air. Bythis construction, flame from a suitable hydrocarbon burner may bedirected downward and outward by the funnel-shaped members 12. Theportion of the apparatus above the curved deflector plate 11 is coveredby the removable plates or'roof 20, disposed on the braces 8 and 8. Thespace between the braces 7 and 8 on the opposite sides of the apparatusis covered by the members 21, se-

cured by means of the hinges 22 to the braces 7. Extending inwardly anddownwardly from the braces 7 on each side of the apparatus are removablesnow deflecting plates 23, the lower ends of which extend over the outersides of the grate hereinafter described.

Disposed below the lower ends of the deflecting plates 23, and extendinglongitudinally of the apparatus, is a segmental removable grate 24,provided with a flange 25 at its ends and sides, and also provided withvertical openings 26 adjacent its outer side edges. The flange 25 isfurther provided on the sides with the horizontal openings 27. By thisconstruction, the water resulting from the melting snow will be readilyconveyed from the grate.

Disposed with one of their edges beneath the outer edges of the grate24, on either side of the grate, are inclined troughs 28, extendinglongitudinally of the apparatus and removably disposed on arms 28 Thesetroughs extend through the wall at one end of the apparatus, andterminate in projecting spouts 29, whereby the melted snow may beconducted from the apparatus.

Disposed beneath the grate 24 is a plurality of burners 30, staggeredwith relation to the ICC , zle, whereby water may be projected into theapparatus, and the whole apparatus cleaned of the matter left behind themelted snow.

The end opposite the discharge pipes 29 is closed by the lower wall 36and the upper wall 37. The side walls are formed by the upper and lowerside members 38, connected to the framework by means of the hinges 39,and provided. with handles 40, by means of which they may be easilyswung on their hinges. The end walls of the apparatus have thereinopenings covered by the doors 41, connected to the framework by means ofthe hinges 42, and provided with a handle 43. The object of theremovable top sections and the hinged side and end doors, is to permitready access to the interior of the apparatus for the purpose ofcleaning the same.

In the operation of the apparatus, it will be understood that the snowto be melted is passed through. the opening, normally covered by thedoor 21. The snow is then conducted by the plates 28 to a position overthe grate 24, where it is struck by the direct flame from the burner inthe funnels 12. At the same time the lower portion of thebody of snow sointroduced into the apparatus is being melted by the indirect heat fromthe burners 30. The grate 24 being heated, the melted snow runs off thecurved floor of the grate before it can again congeal. The

- radiated heat in the apparatus is sufficient to keep the snow melted,so that it is only water which runs through the troughs 28. It will beunderstood that the apparatus will be mounted upon wheels, runners orsimilar constructions, so that the same may be easily transported fromplace to place.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a snow melting apparatus, thecombination comprising a frame, closures hinged on the sides of theframe, hinged closures for a portion of the top of the frame, removableclosures for the remainder of the top of the frame, solid closures for aportion of the ends of the frame, hinged closures for the remainder ofthe ends of the frame, means for subjecting snow within the apparatus tothe direct and the indirect action of flame, and means for conductingmelted snow from the frame.

2. In a snow melting apparatus, the combination comprising a receptacle,a segmental grate having a flange and provided with vertical openingsand with horizontal openings in the flange, burners disposed above andbelow the grate, troughs disposed adj acent the edges of the grate andprojecting from the receptacle, and means for permit ting the insertionof a nozzle adjacent the ends of the troughs.

In a snow melting apparatus, the combination comprising a receptacle, agrate in the receptacle, burners above and below the grate,funnel-shaped flame deflectors around the burners, troughs disposedadjacent the edges of the grate and projecting from the receptacle, andmeans for permitting the insertion of a nozzle adjacent the ends of thetroughs.

4. In a snow melting apparatus, the combination comprising a receptacle,a removable grate disposed Within the receptacle, snow deflector platesextending to the grate, inclined troughs arranged adjacent the edges ofthe grate, said receptacle being provided with openings adjacent theupper ends of the troughs, hinged closures for the openings, burnersabove and below the grate, and a downwardly arched heat deflector platedisposed above the grate.

5. In a snow melting apparatus, the com bination comprising areceptacle, a downwardly arched heat deflector plate carried in thereceptacle, a segmental grate disposed below the deflector plate andprovided with a flange and having drainage openings in the flange and inthe grate. a plurality of hydrocarbon burners above the grate, aplurality of hydrocarbon burners below the grate, oil and compressed airsupply pipes connected to the burners, an'dwater conducting membersdisposed adjacent the edges of the grate beneath the openings thereinand extending outside of the receptacle.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

LOUIS T. FRIGON.

